For the members of the Mataqali Natodre of Waiqanake in Lami outside Suva, 53 years trying to get a share of profit will come to an end.

This was after the Novotel Suva Lami Bay and its inbound operator Micks Fiji (Tours) acknowledged them as spiritual resource owners.

The Mataqali Natodre of Waiqanake claimed the land that the Novotel Lami Bay sits on, once belonged their ancestors.

The property was established in 1970 on the freehold piece of land as the then-Tradewinds Hotel.

Micks Fiji director Sitiveni Nawaqa said representatives from Novotel Suva Lami Bay, Micks Fiji and the mataqali met in the village last Friday.

Mr Nawaqa said his company model stipulates that sharing profit with the spiritual owners of the property was mandatory.

The company now has a total of 20 vehicles operating transfers and tour services in Fiji.

The Sanasana, Tau, Nadroga native said this would be benefit landowners and would work closely with local agencies to bring assistance to handicraft, and tour operators across the country.

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